Chapter 4: That Bitch Isn't My Daughter

Taylor whimpered on the cold floor, her eyes tightly shut and legs drawn up to her stomach, leaving her in a ball form. 

She wrapped her hands across her body, gritting her teeth in fear. The musty basement air was gradually leaving her breathless and her heart was slowing down its pace. 

"Go away…please go away." She kept muttering with chattering teeth. 

The door to the basement suddenly flung open, but Taylor didn't dare to open her eyes. 

"There's a dinner party tonight. Becky will get you ready and when it's time, Ramos will take you there." Andrew stated the reason for his coming. 

Taylor didn't bother to ask who these people were as she still had her eyes tightly shut. 

Seconds later, she managed to get a grip on herself as she slowly opened her eyes and looked up at him. The raw hatred in her eyes couldn't be missed by Andrew. 

The man chuckled darkly and bent beside her, "Now that's the look I expect you to have. But why do I have the feeling you desire to curse me out?" 

Taylor narrowed her eyes at him coldly, her fingernails digging into her flesh. 

"Come on. Go ahead, Taylor Radford. Don't hold back your words." The man probed, his malicious smile not leaving his face. 

Minutes passed and she still said nothing. The man sighed in disappointment, "My bad, I guess you're just too weak to call me cold and callous." 

He knew very well she wasn't fazed. In fact, she was far from fazed. Taylor was someone who didn't like to be hit down, she spoke whatever was on her mind and damned the consequences. And he was really counting on that personality of hers to have a truckload of fun with her.

Minutes after Andrew was gone, an elderly lady walked into the basement and led Taylor to her room. She prepared Taylor's bath, sorted out fresh clothes for her then stood aside and watched Taylor who sat motionless on the bed. 

"I can assist you in taking your bath, Mrs. Radford." The elderly lady said, smiling.  

Taylor merely glanced at her and took her eyes away. Everyone who worked for Andrea wasn't capable of being good. 

"I don't need your assistance. You can leave." Taylor dismissed her. 

The elderly woman stared at her for a while before she left. 

Immediately she was gone, Taylor mustered the remaining strength in her and walked to the window. It was 2 in the afternoon and she could see people walking around the house. From the looks of it, they were Andrew's men and the pistols behind their backs didn't miss Taylor's eyes. 

She closed the curtain and proceeded to have her bath. Her whole body ached and trembled the whole time as she took her time under the shower, scrubbing off the imaginary dirt on her until she was satisfied. 

When she returned to her room, she noticed a tray of food on her table. One of the maids must've dropped it whilst she was taking her bath. 

Her eyes settled on the clothes the elderly woman had taken out. It was a tank top made with flimsy and transparent material. 

Next to it was a short black skirt and next to the skirt were her innerwears. She didn't need to put them on to know it'd make her look like a hoe. 

She might've been the only daughter of the Fairchild family who got whatever she wanted but that didn't make her dress indecently or act spoiled. 

Taylor ignored the pair of clothes and rummaged through the wardrobe until she found something comfortable to wear. 

"I can't stay here any longer. I need to call Daniel and inform him of this. Maybe he can help me out of this hellhole of a marriage." Taylor reasoned quietly as she walked to the window again. 

This time, the men had gathered in one spot talking amongst themselves. This is my chance! 

She opened her door, looked left and right. When she saw nobody, she proceeded towards a direction. She walked for a long time until she came across a maid. 

The maid lowered her head to the floor as soon as she came across Taylor. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Radford." Then she intended to continue on her way when Taylor stopped her. 

"Point me towards the direction of the pool." 

"The pool is that way, Mrs. Radford. But due to some reasons, Mr. Radford sealed it off. He instructed that no one goes there for any reason whatsoever other than those responsible for cleaning the pool." The maid informed, still with her head lowered. 

Taylor frowned. Is it a coincidence the favourite thing I love to do for relaxation is prohibited in this house? 

"You can leave." Taylor said dismissively and sighed. 

The pool was supposed to be a guise for her to know how the house looked and find a way to leave it. 

Although Andrew might not know it's her way of relaxing, he wouldn't be suspicious once she told him that.  

Evening soon came along with the time of the dinner party. The elderly woman returned back to Taylor's room with a box. 

"Mr. Radford sent this over. He asks that you wear it to the party." The elderly woman said, pushing the box towards Taylor. 

After she was gone, two female make-up artists made their way to her room where they made her up before making way for the hairdressers Andrew had also hired.  

"You're beautiful, Mrs. Radford." The hairdresser smiled at Taylor through the mirror. 

Taylor returned the smile and looked away. Andrew hadn't mentioned the party being a big deal, but even if it was, she didn't expect him to go as far as hiring makeup artists and hairdressers to get her ready. 

This is to humiliate me, isn't it? 

Whilst she was lost in her own thoughts, one of the hairdressers walked to the box which was on the bed and opened it. She gasped seeing the beautiful black evening gown.

The second hairdresser flicked her wrist watch to her face and smiled affectionately at Taylor. "We're almost, Mrs. Radford. If you don't mind, can you put on the gown?" 

It was an understatement to say these hairdressers weren't wowed by what they saw. And looking at Taylor's body type, they knew it would look extremely good on her. 

Taylor stared at the gown as well. She got up and slowly put the dress on. 

The gown is crafted from a luxurious, flowing fabric with a subtle sheen, enhancing its overall allure. The black hue exudes timeless charm and versatility, ensuring a classic and sophisticated look. 

The gown features a moderate neckline, striking a balance between elegance and allure. It frames the collarbones and décolletage beautifully, allowing for a hint of skin without being overly revealing. The neckline is tastefully adorned with delicate beading or intricate lace detailing, adding a touch of opulence and refinement.

The gown's silhouette is tailored to perfection, with a fitted bodice that cinches at the waist, creating an hourglass shape. The waistline is accentuated by a slim belt or a band of ornate embellishments, adding a subtle focal point and defining the figure.

The skirt of the gown flows gracefully, cascading down to the floor with a gentle A-line or slight mermaid silhouette. The fabric skims the hips and thighs, allowing for ease of movement while exuding an air of elegance. The length is just right, grazing the floor when paired with high heels, creating a regal and sophisticated appearance.

The back of the gown is equally stunning, with a tasteful design element that draws attention. It featured a low V-back, embellished with intricate lace. 

Next in the box was a second transparent box which contained delicate drop earrings, a sleek clutch, and strappy heels meant to complement the gown's understated elegance.

"It's perfect! It's as though it was made just for you, Mrs. Radford!" One of them squealed, her eyes lighting up happily. 

Their joy was cut short by a knock on the door followed by a masculine introduction, "Good evening, Mrs. Radford. I'm Ramos, your designated driver for tonight and from now on." 

"We should start going, Mrs. Radford. And you look elegant and ravishing in that dress." The second hairdresser who seemed introverted told Taylor. 

They packed their things and hurriedly left the room. 

Taylor stayed in her room for a little longer before she opened the door and stepped out. 

Ramos' eyes clashed with her hips. Without thinking, he took away his eyes. If boss caught him staring, he was dead meat. 

He led her down to the Lincoln and headed towards the venue of the dinner party. They got there in twenty minutes. Due to Taylor's now sensitive identity, Ramos had to park the car behind the building. 

He opened the door for her, but got a call. She saw the name sprawled across his screen 'Boss'. Surely, the caller was Andrew. 

He walked to a secluded corner to answer the call, turning his back on her for a split second. However, the moment he realized what he had done and turned around, Taylor was gone. 

"Mrs. Radford?" He called out in panic, his heart almost jumping out of his mouth. 

He was yet to end the call with Andrew, so Andrew clearly heard him call out for Taylor. 

"What is it?"

"I turned my back on Mrs. Radford for a few seconds and now she's gone. I'm sorry, boss." Ramos apologized guiltily. 

"Whatever you do, make sure you find her." Andrew ordered and hung up. 

Meanwhile, Taylor had followed Ava who she saw from a distance. The moment she saw Ava, her mood improved significantly. 

Andrew hadn't mentioned who would be at the party, but seeing her mother, a portion of the hatred Taylor bore towards him, dissipated. 

However, Taylor stopped right on her track when she saw Ava smiling broadly at a girl her age. She didn't think too much about it and parted her lips to call out that word 'Mother' when she heard Ava's words. 

"Dante is greatly disappointed and upset with Taylor for ruining his reputation and putting his companies in jeopardy. Now that she's married to that sadistic bastard, it'll only take a couple of months before he kills her. You on the other hand need to focus on winning Daniel Holt over. Make him Dante's son-in-law and you'll see how your father will cherish you over Collette in years to come." 

The girl chuckled and gently massaged Ava's hand which was placed on her face, "You have no idea how upset I am to see her call you her mother everyday." 

"Her mother? Elizabeth, I'm more disgusted than you. You have no idea how repulsed I've been whenever she calls me that. She's just a mistake her mother made back then. Taylor's mother detested her so much that she had to abandon her days after the bitch was born." 

Taylor pressed a hand tightly on her mouth, choking back her sobbing and tears.